In recent years increased attention has been given to the special benefits that animals provide to the medically ill, the emotionally disturbed, the elderly, the physically impaired and the normal healthy person. The effect of the presence of animal companionship has been associated with...

The K-9 Care Crew is a group of high school student volunteers from Western Michigan Christian High School. Our students train and work with dogs that are temperament tested and chosen as especially suited for pet therapy. The dogs we work with come in all shapes, sizes, breeds and ages. Many of...

The use of animals for therapeutic purposes has been done for centuries. It wasn’t until the 20th century when people began to realize the potential the human-animal interaction had on our overall health. Professionals and organizations began to implement animal-assisted therapy (AAT)...

Most households in the United States have at least one pet. Why do people have pets? There are many reasons. Pets can decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness. Pets can increase your opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities and...

A descriptive study was conducted to determine if a pet visitation program was an effective intervention in promoting psychological satisfaction and improvingsocial interaction and self-esteem of elderly women living in a nursing home. Six subjects, aged 60 to 94 years, participated in this...